Hiring | Termination | Job Loss

The Workers’ Rights Clinics provide free and confidential information to lower-income workers about their legal rights and the steps they may take to protect those rights. Clinic staff generally do not represent individuals in court.

Three locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Income Guidelines apply.

Pay and Hours

The Workers’ Rights Clinics provide free and confidential information to lower-income workers about their legal rights and the steps they may take to protect those rights. Clinic staff generally do not represent individuals in court.

Three locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Income Guidelines apply.

Benefits

The Workers’ Rights Clinics provide free and confidential information to lower-income workers about their legal rights and the steps they may take to protect those rights. Clinic staff generally do not represent individuals in court.

Three locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Income Guidelines apply.

Leaves | Time Off from Work

The Work & Family Project provides legal information and counseling to workers whose need to take leave to care for their own serious health condition or that of a child, parent, or spouse places them at risk of losing employment.

Languages: Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin

Provides brochures in Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean. (For English and Spanish, see the Employment Development Department below.)

Unemployment Insurance

The Workers’ Rights Clinics provide free and confidential information to lower-income workers about their legal rights and the steps they may take to protect those rights. Clinic staff generally do not represent individuals in court.

Three locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Income Guidelines apply.

Health and Safety | Job Injuries

The Workers’ Rights Clinics provide free and confidential information to lower-income workers about their legal rights and the steps they may take to protect those rights. Clinic staff generally do not represent individuals in court.

Three locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Income Guidelines apply.

Video Tapes and Publications in Spanish and English on worker health and safety. Currently available for download from their website is “Workers’ Compensation in California: A Guidebook for Injured Workers” in English and Spanish. LOHP visits the workplace and makes recommendations for how to comply with OSHA standards.

California-based organization that advocates for protective worker health and safety laws and effective remedies for injured workers, monitors government enforcement, and engages in campaigns to eliminate hazards and toxic chemicals from the workplace.

Discrimination and Harassment

The Workers’ Rights Clinics provide free and confidential information to lower-income workers about their legal rights and the steps they may take to protect those rights. Clinic staff generally do not represent individuals in court.

Three locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Income Guidelines apply.

Disabilities

Legal Aid Society–Employment Law Center and the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund

The Workers’ Rights Disability Law Clinic provides free and confidential legal advice, counseling, and information to workers and job seekers with disabilities. Priority is given to low-income individuals. Disability Law Workshops are free and open to the public on the 1st and 4th Tuesday of the month from 5:30pm–6:30pm. For schedule and more information, call (415) 864-8848.

Clinics are held on Tuesday nights at the Ed Roberts Campus (3075 Adeline Street, Berkeley, 94703). Phone appointments are also available.

The Workers’ Rights Clinics provide free and confidential information to lower-income workers about their legal rights and the steps they may take to protect those rights. Clinic staff generally do not represent individuals in court.

Three locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Income Guidelines apply.

Serves people with AIDS, ARC, and HIV-positive status and their partners and family members. The Panel will listen to all requests, provide free consultations, do simple wills, powers of attorney and medical directives without charge.

A national civil rights law and policy center directed by individuals with disabilities and parents who have children with disabilities. Advances civil and human rights of people with disabilities through legal advocacy, training, education, and public policy and legislative development.

The Workplaces Respond to Domestic and Sexual Violence: A National Resource Center project offers information on the Internet for the benefit of those interested in providing effective workplace responses to victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, dating violence and stalking.

Labor Unions

The Workers’ Rights Clinics provide free and confidential information to lower-income workers about their legal rights and the steps they may take to protect those rights. Clinic staff generally do not represent individuals in court.

Three locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Income Guidelines apply.

Types of Workers—Misclassified Workers

The Workers’ Rights Clinics provide free and confidential information to lower-income workers about their legal rights and the steps they may take to protect those rights. Clinic staff generally do not represent individuals in court.

Three locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Income Guidelines apply.

Whistleblowing

The Workers’ Rights Clinics provide free and confidential information to lower-income workers about their legal rights and the steps they may take to protect those rights. Clinic staff generally do not represent individuals in court.

Three locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Income Guidelines apply.

Languages: Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin

CA Government Agency State Auditor Hotline

To report on a state or governmental agency, call toll-free (800) 952-5665

Free Employment Rights Counseling

The Workers’ Rights Clinics provide free and confidential information to lower-income workers about their legal rights and the steps they may take to protect those rights. Clinic staff generally do not represent individuals in court.

Three locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Income Guidelines apply.

The Work & Family Project provides legal information and counseling to workers whose need to take leave to care for their own serious health condition or that of a child, parent, or spouse places them at risk of losing employment.

Refers only discrimination or harassment cases with a right-to-sue letter from DFEH or EEOC. No discrimination or harassment cases. Wrongful discharge if employed for over five years. Fee is $30 for first half hour of consultation (no fee in case of non-stress-related worker’s compensation).

The Bar Association has panels for three types of employment-related legal problems: Employer-employee disputes/ Civil Service disputes, Title VII discrimination, and wrongful discharge. There are fewer than 15 attorneys on these panels. Fee is $30 for first half hour of consultation.

Serves people with AIDS, ARC, and HIV-positive status and their partners and family members. The Panel will listen to all requests, provide free consultations, do simple wills, powers of attorney and medical directives without charge; other matters handled on a case-by-case basis.

The ACLU is not a legal aid-type office. Focus is on impact litigation, cases raising civil liberties/civil rights issues, constitutional test cases with a potential impact on large numbers of people, some class actions.

The Coalition (CIRRS) is made up of 80 legal assistance, social service, immigrant and refugee rights groups whose goal is to coordinate and insure fair implementation of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA); provide public education re: IRCA and other immigration issues to defend the rights of and coordinate services for all documented and undocumented immigrants and refugees; and to monitor and respond to instances of discrimination.

Courts | Court Advisors | Mediation Services

Claims are limited to disputes of $7,500 or less. If a claim is for more than the limit, the claimant can agree to waive the amount above $7,500. In doing so, the claimant forever waives the right to this portion of the claim;

Claimants cannot file more than 2 small claims actions for more than $2500 in a calendar year;

A claimant cannot sue on only part of what is basically a single claim. Suit on any part bars later suit on the balance;

No right of appeal. The defendant has the option of appealing the decision to Superior Court;